Melmore Head - Letterkenny - Belfast and Larne – 72
kilometres
Esther needed to get back to work, and we went to Letterkenny to
see what public transport was available. From Letterkenny, buses
departed to Derry, where they ran straight to Belfast. A shock,
however, awaited in Belfast as it was packed. Each nook and cranny
were fully booked due to a major international boxing event. Every
B&B and hotel was chock-a-block, from the cheapest to the Hilton
(we even considered that one). By then, the time was ten o’clock,
and the weather was freezing. I suggested cycling the 6 kilometres
north to our first camp, but Esther was not to be swayed. The staff at
the train station was amicable and directed us to a B&B in Larne,
where ferries departed for Glasgow. They even phoned to book the
B&B and ferry and helped us on the train. What friendly people.
Larne - Oxford Island – 91 kilometres
We emerged to a scrumptious breakfast—what luxury! Our
guesthouse was in a great location across from the harbour, making
easy access to the ferry. Esther hopped on the 10:30 ferry, and after
waving her goodbye, I pointed my mobile home toward Belfast and
onto the road leading south.
The weather was good, and being Sunday, plenty of cyclists were out,
all stopping to chat. I took the recommended path south, which
followed the River Lagan to Lisburn. From there, a minor route ran
via Moira to Oxford Island and Lough Neagh. I even came upon the
Orange Order, band and all, in one of the smaller villages. I couldn’t
believe they existed in real life. I would’ve thought their supremacist
values illegal in our modern-day. They most likely were practising for
the annual march held around mid-July.